St. Louis pitcher League reaches deal with Blue Jays
| • | Komine to return to Nebraska |
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Two-time all-state pitcher Brandon League said he has agreed to terms with the Toronto Blue Jays.
League, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound right-hander out of St. Louis School, was selected in the second round (59th overall) by the Blue Jays in Major League Baseball's first-year player draft on June 5.
"I just want to go out and play," League said. "I've missed a lot already."
League would not disclose the terms, only confirming it was worth more than $500,000. But he said his bonus was consistent with other signees drafted around his spot.
The 57th pick, The Citadel third baseman Dallas McPherson, signed for $660,000 with the Anaheim Angels, while the 62nd pick, Arizona outfielder Shelley Duncan, got $655,000 from the New York Yankees.
"It was a fair amount of money and I agreed to it," said League, who is represented by adviser Danny Horwits of the Beverly Hills Sports Council.
League said he is expected to sign today and leave tomorrow for the Blue Jays' advanced rookie club at Medicine Hat (Canada).
League was 4-2 with a 3.18 earned run average for the Crusaders this past season.
League is the seventh player with ties to Hawai'i to sign out of the 15 who were drafted. He is the second high school player to sign. Earlier, Kamehameha shortstop Bronson Sardinha signed a $1 million contract with the New York Yankees, who made him the 34th overall pick.
Other high school players drafted were Kaua'i pitcher Mark Rodrigues (29th round by Montreal), Mid-Pacific pitcher Ricky Bauer (39th by Boston), Kamehameha pitcher Hubert Pruett (41st by Milwaukee) and Moanalua outfielder Stephen Green (43rd by Kansas City).
Bauer has accepted a scholarship offer from the University of Hawai'i.
